New to DIY Electronics & The Bottlehead Forum

[M42]

Hello all,

I'm a tyro in the world of diy electronics, having just received my Crack headphone amp and eagerly awating the arrival of my Seduction phono amp! I'd like some advice...I have noted that others have wired their kits with Kimber TCSS hookup wire. I ordered some for my kit, but could only find it in 19 awg. This wire is stranded and if I understand wire guages...this would be marginally larger wire than the 20 guage supplied. Am I correct in assuming that this should not present a problem.

Kind regards,

Jeff

[Paul Joppa]

There is no technical problem. We like solid-core wire because it is easier to work with, and stays where you put it more readily.

[M42]

Thanks Paul.

Regards,

Jeff

[corndog71]

I like Kimber TCSS wire and have used it in many projects.  I also use homegrownaudio.com (HGA) wire as it's solid core 22awg and easy to shape and strip and it sounds good.  For heavier guage wire I get Electra Cable 16awg solid core wire from GR Research.  I've tried radio shack stranded and solid core wires but they tend to break and the insulation melts off too easily.  It's not good wire.  The Kimber and HGA is good stuff.  I use a nail clipper for stripping the teflon on these small wires and a good wire stripper for bigger wires.  I suggest practicing with cutting, stripping, shaping, and soldering wires to get the hang of it.

With one exception all of my interconnects were hand-braided by me with either Kimber TCSS I salvaged from extra 4TC/8TC speaker cable, AGSS I repurposed from a pair of KCAG interconnects, or HGA wire I bought in bulk.  I use Kimber 4TC for my "A" stereo and Kimber 8TC for my "B" stereo.  For my home theater I use 8VS for my center, 4VS for front left and right, and ordinary radio shack 16awg wire for my surrounds.

Bottlehead gear is the best for learning and practicing.  You have entered the rabbit hole.  Good luck, be safe, and don't be afraid of asking questions.  And be safe.

[earwaxxer]

Hey Jeff - plenty to obsess about in the DIY world. IMO, thats what makes it fun. When you lay your head down to sleep, you can relax and drift off knowing that your newly installed 16g solid core cryo pure silver cotton dielectric wires are not standing in the way of your music! Wires are easy - dont get me started on digital!

[Paul Birkeland]

I would never, ever, ever recommend that a first-time kit build be done with stranded wire. 

If you're interested in better wire, you may be able to purchase some additional Teflon covered solid core wire from Eileen, or if you want to get some super premium wire, I'd recommend solid core OCC wire.

There's nothing wrong with the Kimber stranded wire, but those strands will go everywhere when you attempt to shove them through terminals or tube socket pins.  To remedy that, you can tin every stripped wire end, but then it will become fatter and fewer wires will fit through the same hole...  

Sorry to be kind of negative in this post, but I've seen others struggle with stranded hookup wire, so I thought I'd chime in.

[Grainger49]

I'll second Paul's warning above.  Stranded wire tends to un-strand on you.  It can be a real mess unless you have used it for a while.  So maybe stranded for DIY cables first, then try it on a kit.

[earwaxxer]

I agree with the above. Stranded wire is, for me, nerve racking! I always cringe when I try to strip it, thinking Im cutting into the strands. Its also limp and lifeless. Solid core is wonderfully stiff and beautiful! (thats what she said).